If you’re just starting or want to minimize risk, house hacking is a killer move—grab a duplex, live in one unit, rent the other, and let it pay down your mortgage while you scale up.

HVAC unit is package unit on right side of the unit.

Currently the other unit is empty and wasn't sure how to handle the taxes regarding this, so I am looking for refences of an accountant in the Phoenix Metro who does house hack taxes.If you have any other pieces of advice or wisdom for landlord and tenant rights it would be greatly appreciated. 

@Tyler Kesling  Adding to the above great points, start with 2-4 units as it's standard conventional financing.  5+ units is commercial and somewhat of a different ballgame.   

I'm born and raised in Houston and now work with a full service long-term rental management managing over 300 doors - all SF or MU (up to 4 unit).

I have had 3 people email me this weekend who are over leveraged and also cash strapped in that they have repairs of $5k or more, o cash to repair and without repairing cannot release unit.

We rehabbed the entire property and added an additional bedroom to each of the units.

What if you have an apartment complex with 20 units?

I've got a long term tenant lined up & the unit is a non smoking unit, which the applicant is aware & fine with for indoor.

Without electric you can not heat the unit.